Playground Surface Materials
Characteristics Summary

Table 1: Fall Absorbing Surface Characteristics at 6" depth

1. Wood Chips Critical Height = 7 foot
2. Double Shredded Bark Critical Height = 6 foot
3. Engineered Wood Fibers Critical Height = 6 foot
4. Fine Sand Critical Height = 5 foot
5. Coarse Sand Critical Height = 5 foot
6. Fine Gravel Critical Height = 6 foot
7. Medium Gravel Critical Height = 6 foot
8. Decorative Rubber Mulch Critical Height = 10-12 foot

The surface under and around playground equipment can be a major factor in determining the injury causing potential of a fall. A fall onto a shock absorbing surface is less likely to cause a serious injury than a fall onto a hard surface. Because head trauma injuries from a fall have the potential for being life-threatening, the more shock absorbing a surface can be the greater the likelihood of reducing severe injuries.

HOWEVER, IT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED THAT SOME INJURIES FROM FALLS WILL OCCUR NO MATTER WHAT PLAYGROUND SURFACING MATERIAL IS USED.